social media

Social media has been a part of campus life at the University of Manitoba for years – but some new apps are exposing the darker side of social media platforms that allow anonymous users to publicly mock and deride their fellow students.

If I told you there was a Twitter feud in November 2012, I doubt you would be surprised; Twitter has enough feuds to go around. However, the one I’m going to tell you about resulted in something unusual. This feud did not simply end with frustration, angry words, or hashtags. It ended in a courtroom.

The Twitter exchange between Toronto artist Gregory Alan Elliott and a group of feminist activists led by Stephanie Guthrie resulted in the arrest and charge of Elliott on two counts of criminal harassment. It wasn’t until three years later on Jan. 22, 2016 that a Toronto judge found Elliott not guilty. The judge’s decision is a resounding defense of freedom of speech.

Blue, white, and red. Over the last week my Facebook feed has been filled with profile pictures tinted in those colours. It’s not only the images, though; everyone seems to have something they want to say to address the tragedy in Paris in which roughly 130 people were killed by ISIS terrorists.